Class A towing recommendations

Look for a used, older Prevost chassis motor home. It will be able to tow what you need as well as have a chassis and brakes to handle the mountains. The Prevost type chassis are built on a bus type chassis designed to go one million miles and more. Used ones are available and you can probably find on that will sleep four in the 40-45' range.

THutch here again,
Yes the 2005 34' Itasca Meridian 34H came with a 7500 Onan Quiet Diesel Generator, and a Allison 3000 transmission. GCWR is 37910 - true 10K tow capacity.

Water Tanks: 92gal Fresh(10gal water heater), 62gal Black, 54gal Gray.

"The higher rated hitches (10,000 lbs) were found on MH's with additional HP and the Allison 3000 transmission. "

Don't just go by the hitch rating! My coach has a hitch rated for 10,000 pounds but weighs 22,000lbs dry and has a GCWR of 30,000lbs. By the time I load it for a trip it is generally pushing 24,000lbs so the most I can pull and stay under my GCWR is 6,000lbs. The limiting factor on mine is the transmission. For some reason Freightliner only puts an Allison 2100 in most coaches that are only 35ft long (208 inch wheelbase). Go up a foot and you get an Allison 2500, 10% more power and a much better tow rating but still not 10,000lbs the way I figure it.

My coach was actually advertised as having a 10,000lb tow rating even though the factory engineers denied it. The engineers finally made the marketing people take that off of the add. Just because you see it advertised doesn't mean that it is true.

THutch wrote:
I have a 2005 34' Itasca Meridian with a 350 Cat. Model 34H. It's rated to tow 10K. Sleeps 4 adults - 2 on queen bed in back and 2 on queen sofa sleeper up front. We don't have the booth dinette, but if equipped, it will sleep 5.

We normally travel with 2 adults and 3 small dogs. Sometimes our granddaughter will go with us, and she says the sofa sleeper is very comfortable.

But every night is a Three Dog Night!

Is this with a diesel generator, or? Standard as diesel, or an option?

Thanks, lanerd - Not saying what I was told was correct, just what I could see on hitches in the RV lot, so your insight is appreciated. Possibly the transmission has more to do with it or it could be the MH length - I was looking at 38' and up (ours is 39).

conceptumator wrote:
The way it was explained to us when we bought our new Class A DP earlier this year was that 340 HP and the Allison 2500 transmission would handle to 5,000 lbs, which was the hitch limit that came on them. The higher rated hitches (10,000 lbs) were found on MH's with additional HP and the Allison 3000 transmission.

Our 34' 08 Safari Simba (mentioned previously) was a CAT C7 330hp and an Allison 3000 rated for 10k. Just Saying....

Ron

One of the hot rods of the MH was the older Patriot Thunders with either a 425 or 455 HP Cat C-12. But you are into a 40'. They would sleep 4 and have a large fidge, shower and etc.

However, as you said, you might be embarrassed at the track for the luxury.

The way it was explained to us when we bought our new Class A DP earlier this year was that 340 HP and the Allison 2500 transmission would handle to 5,000 lbs, which was the hitch limit that came on them. The higher rated hitches (10,000 lbs) were found on MH's with additional HP and the Allison 3000 transmission.

I have a 2005 34' Itasca Meridian with a 350 Cat. Model 34H. It's rated to tow 10K. Sleeps 4 adults - 2 on queen bed in back and 2 on queen sofa sleeper up front. We don't have the booth dinette, but if equipped, it will sleep 5.

We normally travel with 2 adults and 3 small dogs. Sometimes our granddaughter will go with us, and she says the sofa sleeper is very comfortable.

But every night is a Three Dog Night!

Thanks very much everyone. Good advice.